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Coevolutionary alternation in antagonistic interactions.

Scott L Nuismer1, John N Thompson

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844, USA. snuismer@uidaho.edu

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|January 24, 2007
PubMed
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Multispecies coevolution, including predator-prey and host-parasite dynamics, can lead to evolutionary alternation. This occurs when species preferences shift due to evolving defenses, driving rapid changes in specialization within ecological networks.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Ecology
  • Theoretical Biology

Background:

  • Multispecies coevolutionary interactions, such as predator-prey and host-parasite dynamics, frequently involve reciprocal adaptations in defenses and counter-defenses.
  • Classic examples include insect-plant, invertebrate-predator, and ungulate-predator systems, which exhibit complex coevolutionary trajectories.
  • Major hypotheses for nonequilibrium dynamics include trait escalation, fluctuating trait cycles leading to polymorphism, and coevolutionary alternation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the conditions that favor coevolutionary alternation in multispecific trophic interactions.
  • To theoretically investigate evolutionary fluctuations in predator or prey preference driven by shifts in defense levels.

Main Methods:

  • Development and analysis of a set of quantitative coevolutionary models.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Simulation of multispecies interactions under various biologically plausible conditions.

    • Main Results:

    • Coevolutionary alternation was demonstrated to occur across a broad spectrum of biologically realistic scenarios.
    • These dynamics frequently result in repeated and potentially rapid evolutionary shifts in specialization patterns.
    • The study identified conditions favoring coevolutionary alternation, a phenomenon previously less understood theoretically.

    Conclusions:

    • Coevolutionary alternation is a more prevalent outcome in multispecies interactions than previously assumed.
    • Understanding these dynamics is crucial for predicting evolutionary trajectories and patterns of specialization in ecological networks.
    • The findings highlight the potential for rapid evolutionary change driven by reciprocal selective pressures in nature.